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an image of a drawing of a man with a mustache
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18 - 18. * Anatoly Zverev (Russian, 1931–1986)
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Estimate €1,000 - €1,200
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Description
18. * Anatoly Zverev (Russian, 1931–1986) Self-Portrait signed with initials in Cyrillic script and dated ‘83’ (bottom left) pencil on paper 60 x 48 cm (23 5/8 x 18 7/8 in). Provenance Acquired directly from the artist in Moscow Collection of Eric Peschler, Switzerland Thence by descent to the present owner Literature Eric A. Peschler, *Studios of Moscow Contemporary Drawings / Ateliers de Moscou Dessins Contemporains*, Enrico Navarra, 1992, p. 186, illustrated Anatoly Zverev, an artist of remarkable improvisational talent who could produce a work in a matter of minutes, remains a unique phenomenon in the history of unofficial Soviet art. Impossible to categorise within any particular artistic movement or group, Zverev was a solitary figure whose creative practice was sustained largely by his personal charisma and singular individuality, both inseparable from his art. Georgy Kostaki described the passionate artist as a ‘lyrical expressionist’. Despite the energy, aggression and spontaneity of his works, they possess a subtle lyricism and sense of hope that emerge through the master’s seemingly chaotic line. For all their apparent spontaneity and expressive force, Zverev’s works contain nothing superfluous or accidental. What initially appears to be disorder – an accumulation of painterly gestures and patches of colour – ultimately resolves into a harmonious composition. Improvisation was a fundamental aspect of his artistic practice. Zverev worked constantly and everywhere, making use of whatever materials happened to be available. Another defining characteristic of the artist was his legendary productivity. The vast body of work he created constitutes a significant chapter in his artistic legacy. Not only did he work across a variety of techniques, but he also explored virtually every genre. His early abstract compositions stand, in terms of artistic achievement, alongside his numerous portraits, still lifes, landscapes and animal studies. The creative energy of Zverev’s art, together with its occasional sense of incompleteness and sketch-like quality, offers viewers considerable scope for interpretation, inviting them to participate actively in the process of reflection and meaning-making.
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About the sale The Eric A. Peschler Collection: Non-Conformist Art of the Soviet Era
Auction location
Auction time 10/05/2026 at 12:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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